Author's Note: Perhaps it's a temporary bug, but whenever I save, exclamation points disappear if they follow a question mark, even when editing the html :(.

Chapter 10: Salvation

Anders scampered away a few feet from the jagged edge of the ship. He remained on all fours, his breathing ragged from the pain in his ribs and his jaw. Still, he counted himself lucky. He had only been spared Fenris's misfortune by virtue of being on his knees in front of the elf when the crossbeam struck.

"Well done, Anders. Let him reap what he has sown..." Justice murmured from within.

"Shut up! You were going to let him kill us!" Anders shot back silently.

"And what should I have done in full view of the Qunari? You wished me to reveal myself and thus deliver us to our deaths by their hand? If so, it appears I am gifted with vastly greater foresight than my host." Justice intoned haughtily. "The elf may well have struck us down, but I stayed my hand in the hope that he would see reason."

"He didn't! We could have died!" Ander protested.

"And yet we are alive," Justice's voice seemed as close to a chuckle as Anders had ever heard it.

"I hate you sometimes," Ander growled out loud.

"The feeling is quite mutual," Justice replied instantly.

"Sailors of the Osprey! Retreat to the crews' quarters!" A desperate voice yelled over the fighting and cannon fire. Anders turned to see Enrique bleeding from several wounds but still standing tall. The sailors on the deck instantly followed his orders and began a tactical retreat from the elves. All but one of them seemed more than happy to let them go, given Fenris's absence. An auburn-haired elf with a look that rivaled Fenris at his most enraged almost gave chase, but a red-haired elf who stood slightly taller grabbed him by the arm.

"Tieral, let them go! We have to find Fenris!" The taller elf demanded.

"Below deck now, men! We'll bar the door!" Enrique shouted again over the sound of yet another cannon round. Anders slowly got to his feet and stared at the first mate, unsure of what to do. He knew Enrique hated him, but somehow Esteban had not convinced Fenris of the mage's hand in the emancipation of the Osprey's elves. If Fenris thought Anders was complicit in his enslavement, the other elves were sure to share his assessment and show just as little mercy.

Enrique seemed to sense the scrutiny. The sailor's eyes shifted over to the destroyed railing and locked onto Anders. The two men stared at each other in silence for a moment before the first mate beckoned toward him with an impatient wave of his arm. "Don't just sit there dumbfounded, Anders! Get over here!"

"Mab?" Anders looked down, half-expecting her to be gone, but the black cat was calmly looking up at him with her large, topaz eyes.

"Mrrrow!"

"Let's go!"

"Help me! Lanreth! Anyone!" Fenris screamed just as another cannon thundered, completely drowning out the sound of his voice. His little finger slipped off, soon followed by the next.

"Hawke, I failed you," Fenris thought to himself, his voice failing him again from the combination of pain and despair. For everything to come to this moment, where his own stupidity and puerile need for revenge literally placed him on the brink... it was worse than the moment in the slave hold. At least then he had entertained a shred of hope that he would be found. This time no tears fell from his eyes. It was was far too late. Fenris closed his eyes as his final fingers slipped.

"I love you, Hawke," the elf whispered as he fell... merely an inch. Fenris's eyes shot open and he instinctively glanced at his wrist, which was now held in an iron grip. The green eyes then glanced up to find brown eyes staring back at him. He was too stunned to speak. When he felt the hand on his arm, he had expected to see Lanreth above him, not the mage he had almost killed in a blind rage. He closed his eyes hard in utter disbelief, but when he opened them again, Anders was still there. The mage's blond hair had come loose and the wild locks now framing the man's face caught the rays of the rising sun. The flaxen strands almost seemed to glow in the light, and gave him the appearance of a spirit of sorts, but entirely unlike the harsh, cold glow when the man was possessed by Justice. With a sudden euphoria brought on by cheating death, Fenris found the entire effect hauntingly beautiful. The elf went even further and momentarily wondered why the man never let his hair fall free.

"Shut up!" Anders growled, causing Fenris to fear that he had actually said those unbidden, unwanted thoughts aloud. However, the mage continued to mutter, even through the grunts of exertion from pulling the elf up. "I'm allowed to change my mind, Justice!"

"My right arm is broken! I can't pull with my other hand!" Fenris shouted, bringing Anders out of his personal debate.

"Thank the Maker you elves are light!" Anders muttered back. He had his other arm on the portion of the railing that had not been blasted apart by the Qunari cannons. With a grimace, he shifted his body and braced one of his legs against it, as well. "Pray this thing holds!" Anders yelled as he pulled back with a cry of exertion. The angle necessitated placing his arm, and thus Fenris's, between his legs. As Anders leaned back onto the deck, the half-naked elf was lifted up and over the edge, to rest akwardly on top of him. The mage's black cat was close by and had a look of pure feline irritation as she looked over at Fenris.

"Anders, thank-" Fenris's statement of gratitude was cut short when he rolled away from Anders and fell onto his broken arm. He screamed as the pain he had forgotten flared back to life in the worst way imaginable. His eyes watered from the intensity of it.

"Fenris!" Lanreth rushed over with Tieral, who was eyeing Anders with a dangerous gleam in his eyes. Fenris didn't miss the look, and shook his head sharply.

"Tieral, don't you dare! This man... he saved my life!" Fenris gasped through his pain. Mab had positioned herself in front of Anders again, and there was a low throaty growl in her throat.

"Brother, calm your fury and make yourself useful!" Lanreth grabbed hold of Tieral and forced him to look face-to-face with his elder sibling. "Tear a piece of the sail and wave it aloft in surrender to the Qunari, before they blow us completely out of the water!" Lanreth yelled and shoved his brother away. Tieral narrowed his eyes in anger, but nodded and rushed away. Lanreth knelt down next to Fenris just as Anders did the same.

"The name is Lanreth," the elf introduced himself to Anders, though he didn't extend a hand to the human.

"Anders, a fri... an acquaintance of Fenris's," the mage replied.

"So I've heard," Lanreth said with a pointed look. "Your cat seems quite protective of you," he added as he looked down at the black feline.

"Yes, quite. Her name is Mab," Anders replied. He shifted his eyes back to Fenris.

"I can help," Anders said as he reached over his rival's prone body for the injured arm. The elf slapped his hands away with almost bruising force.

"No!" Fenris growled. Lanreth stared at them both, unsure of what to do.

"Andraste's ass, Fenris! Now is not the time for your bullshit!" Anders shouted as he reached again. This time Fenris's left hand locked onto the healer's right. Mab began to growl once more. Anders glared at the injured elf, but his expression turned into one of confusion when he saw fear, rather than anger in the green eyes.

"Anders, for your sake, not mine... the Qunari will see," Fenris urged with a pained breath.

"What does he mean?" Lanreth asked with furrowed brows.

"Nothing," Anders and Fenris said simultaneously as a look of understanding passed between them. "Mab, calm down," Anders ordered. The cat blinked at their joined hands, but ceased her growling.

"Fellow elves! Drop your weapons!" Fenris shouted at the top of his lungs. There was an immediate clatter of metal on wood as the former slaves obeyed instantly.

"We surrender! We surrender!" Tieral yelled immediately after.

"Help me up!" Fenris ordered, still holding Anders's hand. The blond mage nodded and pulled the elf into a seated position along with Lanreth, who supported Fenris's back gently.

The three of them looked at the Qunari ship and could now clearly the crew of the warship lining the railings. Anders and Lanreth both gasped in surprise.

"There are several elves with the Qunari!" The mage exclaimed.

"And a human!" Lanreth added. Over two dozen warriors in red Qunari warpaint stood shoulder-to-shoulder, with noticeable dips in the line from the shorter elves and human.

"They wear the setosh markings on their skin. They are Qunari, as well," Fenris intoned evenly.

"I've heard of elves and humans living amongst the Qunari, but to see them is another matter entirely," Lanreth whispered.

"Be assured that they are just as fervent in their beliefs," Fenris remarked cautiously.

All three men shook involuntarily as there was a quick series of five explosions from the deck of the warship. Instead of cannon fire, however, there was a whistling sound as grappling hooks flew through the air trailing lines of thick rope. One fell with a thud just to their left. The line immediately began to retract and the three-pronged steel hook skidded across the deck until it locked onto the railing.

The sound of grinding metal brought their eyes back across the water. Ten of the largest, most muscular of the Qunari warriors had positioned themselves behind five massive winches which held the ropes. In teams of two, the veritable giants began turning the gears and bringing the two ships closer together.

"Let me do the talking," Fenris said sharply as he looked at both Anders and Lanreth. The mage and the other elf quickly nodded their assent. Both of their eyes were wide with fear as the Qunari warship loomed inexorably closer. "And Lanreth..."

"Yes?" the red-haired elf answered, though his eyes were now locked onto the row of Qunari warriors.

"Keep Tieral under control. What happens in the next few minutes will determine if we live or die," Fenris warned, his voice raspy and clearly weighed down by the pain of his broken arm.

"Understood!" Lanreth replied and got up to find his brother only a few feet away, still waving the white flag of surrender with a fervor that nearly matched that of his sabre swings in battle. He rushed over to him, while Fenris leaned over to whisper to Anders.

"I think only my arm is broken, but legs were also injured when I fell. Help me stand, please," Fenris asked with a tremble in his voice. Anders nodded and stood up. He then quickly went behind the elf and hooked one hand under Fenris's left arm. Anders avoided the injured arm, but instead braced his other hand against the elf's hip as he pulled up. Fenris's legs were shaking slightly, prompting Anders to remain close with a hand at the ready. Mab was on his other side, looking supremely agitated, though quiet.

The ships were now only a few meters apart. With a loud creaking sound followed by a crash, the gangplank of the warship slammed onto the deck of the Osprey. The red-painted warriors streamed onto the adjacent vessel with gleaming steel swords at the ready. One in particular stood out from the rest. While the other Qunari, including the elves and human, were bare-chested and wore simple breeches, this one wore a harness over his chest, along with red and black metal shoulder plates and bracers. He was not the largest of the warriors, but he held the largest sword by far. It was a massive, serrated blade of black steel, with a ruby pommel. It was as long as an elf was tall and menaced with jagged spikes along the upper edges of the crosshatches.

"You are in the presence of Sten of the Enaresaad!" The horned sword-bearer bellowed in a voice even deeper than Fenris's as his men spread out along the deck to surround the unarmed elves in a ring of red. With an almost imperceptible nod from their commander, the entire regiment pointed their swords in unison at the prisoners. Tieral gave his makeshift white flag a final wave, before Lanreth gripped his arm and forced him to cease. "Who is your leader?" Sten shouted, though his eyes were already trailing along the lines of Fenris's lyrium tattoos.

"I am," Fenris replied in a strong, but labored voice. Sten sneered at him and approached. Anders and Fenris both tensed, but the elf put a calming hand on the mage's shoulder. "My name is Fenris-"

"I care not for your name. You are Bas," Sten spat the Qunari word for "thing" as he looked Fenris up and down with an expression of pure disdain.

"Anaan esaam Qun!" Fenris said evenly.

"What is this? Bas who speaks of victory in the Qun?" Sten's expression shifted slightly to one of smug curiosity. "And how does Bas know such elevated speech?" The Qunari stepped closer. Anders stepped back slightly for a moment, but when Fenris stood his ground, the mage reconsidered and returned to his side.

"I am a former slave who was forced to fight against your kind on the island of Seheron," Fenris replied. Anders stared at him, terrified by the honest answer.

"Bas speaks words of truth. Many of us know the tales of the silver-blue foe who fought against us at the Battle of Seheron. One with tattoos such as yours," Sten's voice held a deadly edge as he reached out with a clawed finger and began to trace the brands. Fenris hissed at the touch, but he kept his eyes on the Qunari and didn't shrink away, though his entire body shook at the invasive contact.

"He was a slave! It wasn't his fault!" Anders protested, immediately drawing angry glares from both Fenris and Sten.

"You are beneath Bas and dare speak to Sten in such a manner?" The Qunari yelled in anger.

"Forgive him, Sten!" Fenris exclaimed quickly as he slapped his left hand on Anders's shoulder and motioned with his head to kneel. Both mage and elf sank to their knees in front of the horned warrior. "He is kabethari, a thing which must be taught."

"As do you all," Sten's remarked coldly as he looked at the other foreign elves. Mirroring Fenris's gesture, Lanreth placed his hand on Tieral's shoulder and forced him to kneel along with him. He was soon followed by Bronwyn, as well as the rest of the former slaves.

"We are not the crew of this ship, we-" Fenris started to explain, but Sten quickly began speaking over him.

"That much is obvious. We saw the fighting taking place on this ship soon after we attacked. Do you think it's a coincidence that our cannons only struck your foes?" Sten asked rhetorically as he glanced around at the other elves. "The Tevinter Imperium's slave trade has increased in the past year and this we cannot abide."

"We thank you for timely assistance," Fenris remarked with a bow.

"You are most welcome, Bas. Your honesty and manners are a welcome surprise. Likewise for the sight of elves fighting to liberate themselves before we even stepped foot on this ship," Sten replied with a stern voice that seemed slightly at odds with his words of praise. His eyes still held a dangerous glint as he looked around again. "However, I doubt the crew of this ship was filled with amateurs!" Sten shouted suddenly. The hostages all shook from the outburst, even Fenris. "When we bring the sailors of this vessel to heel, will we find any evidence of magic?" The Qunari's voice lowered to a dangerous hiss. Anders stared blankly ahead and didn't even dare to gulp.

"No, Sten," Fenris lied with a supremely stoic expression.

"There are no mages among you?" Sten rephrased the question as if speaking to children. "If you are lying, you will all be put to death."

"We have no mages!" Fenris raised his voice and his eyes flashed in anger. "Look upon me, Sten! My life was made wretched by magic! If you know of my past during the Battle of Seheron, then you know I was a weapon of war, a tool for a cruel magister. I only gained my freedom because I was left behind when the Imperium's forces fled from the island! I hate them with every fiber of my being!" Fenris growled with complete sincerity.

"I see," Sten replied calmly as he regarded Fenris with slightly less disdain. "So explain to me the means of your escape."

"My... friend," Fenris stumbled slightly on the word as he nodded toward Anders, "fooled the crew of the Osprey into thinking that he hated elves. He enlisted the aid of the Osprey's cabin boy, who was able to pilfer the keys. It was the boy who freed us."

"And why would he risk such a thing for slaves?" Sten asked with a note of true curiosity.

"I... don't know..." Fenris turned to Anders.

"He was smitten with one of the elven women," Anders replied carefully. He sighed a bit in relief when he wasn't shouted at for speaking to Sten. The Qunari leader looked at the three women among the mostly male contingent of elves. All three of them blushed, especially raven-haired Bronwyn.

"And where is this valiant human boy?" Sten asked as he looked around.

"He was injured by my brother."

"Lanreth!" Tieral gasped at his sibling.

"I will not lie to our saviors, brother," Lanreth shot back with a firm shake of his head before turning to Sten. "My brother was freed first, and in a rage, he beat the boy into unconsciousness," Lanreth explained despite his brother's look of betrayal.

"You would attack the very instrument of your liberation?" Sten asked as he turned to regard Tieral.

"I-I..." the elf stuttered.

"He was afraid and angry... he lashed out. I don't condone what my brother did, but please have mercy," Lanreth pleaded.

"You kabethari are ruled by your whims and desires. No discipline, no restraint. You do not channel your rage for anything righteous, but rather let it harm everything around you, even those wishing to lend aid," Sten gesticulated with one hand, while he gripped his sword tightly with the other. "You fought for your freedom from slavery, but I offer you an even greater prize!" He paused to make eye contact with each and every hostage before continuing. "You have a chance to leave doubt and misery behind and embrace certainty and enlightenment," the horned commander bellowed with a fiery zeal in his golden eyes.

"What are our choices?" Tieral asked with an impertinent tone, though he quickly shrank under the withering glare that Sten sent his way. Lanreth gave his younger brother a mighty pinch to the arm.

"Embrace the one true path and join us on our ship as viddathari, new brothers and sisters of the Qun. Or deny your salvation and perish on our blades," Sten replied simply. His grip flexed on his sword.

"Anaan esaam Qun!" Fenris intoned once more. "I accept enlightenment," the elf added with a bow. The rest of the former slaves answered in kind, with varying degrees of enthusiasm and accuracy with the Qunari phrase. The only one who got it completely right was Lanreth. Sten turned to Anders who had yet to speak. The mage gulped, then nodded.

"I... accept," Anders said with a shaking voice.

"Welcome viddathari," Sten bellowed, though he seemed perhaps a trifle disappointed that all had accepted his terms. He turned to his men and issued orders in the Qunari tongue. The circle of swords parted and eight of the warriors split off from the rest. "Please follow my men to the Ataash, the Glory," he waved to the Qunari warship. "You will be seen by our healer."

"May I keep my cat?" Anders asked as he scooped Mab into his arms. His heartbeat kicked up a notch as he awaited the answer.

"It is Terenbas and welcome on our ship," Sten replied with a nod after a moment of scrutiny.

"It means 'useful thing' in their language," Fenris whispered to Anders as the soldiers began to march with them in tow.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Lanreth exclaimed as one of the Qunari elves began to drag the one elf who had fallen in battle toward the edge of the ship.

"His essence has parted," the red-painted elf replied flatly.

"His name was Dermoth. Please, allow me to give him a few words for his passing," Lanreth pleaded.

"You are viddathari now. We Qunari do not mourn empty husks," Sten remarked with a note of finality and nodded to the Qunari elf. Dermoth was promptly tossed overboard. Lanreth watched the body fall into the ocean, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

"What of the crew?" Anders blurted out, though he glanced in the direction of the captain's quarters opposite from where Enrique and the other men had fled. Fenris gave him an angry glare. The wide green eyes said "shut the Blight up" as clearly as any words.

"That is not your concern, viddathari," Sten answered simply.

Fenris sat on the examination table of the warship's clinic, bare-chested, but wearing a new, clean pair of tan cotton breeches. It cut quite a snug fit, but was still incredibly comfortable. Other than the similarly dressed Qunari healer, the clinic was empty.

Fenris could count on one hand the number of times he had been inside of Anders's clinic in Darktown. Still, from what he remembered, the onboard clinic was just as well stocked, if not more. There were rows and rows of various vials of all colors of the rainbow, rolls upon rolls of gauze and bandages within glassfront cases and cabinets, as well as several tomes, which the elf guessed were medical treatises.

"Drink," the healer said as he held out a small purple vial with a cork stopper.

"What is it?" Fenris asked with a suspicious look.

"For... leg," the healer was far less proficient with Thedosian common than Sten. The Qunari shook his head as he reconsidered his choice of words. "For arm. Drink," he added as he pulled the stopper off.

"How is this supposed to help my arm?" Fenris wondered aloud. He assumed the Qunari eschewed magic when dealing with the healing arts, but after the incident with the Antivan Grave's Kiss, or whatever it was that Anders had actually used, he was a little leery of potions in general.

"Drink!" The healer insisted with a raised voice.

"Fine, fine!" The elf acquiesced and took the vial in hand. "All of it?"

"All!" The healer said impatiently. Fenris scowled a bit as he brought the glass in front of his face, then he closed his eyes and drank it all in one go.

"My arm still hurts like... like... well..." the elf's speech began to slur a bit.

"Sleep," the healer said gently as he stood up and gently pushed Fenris back so that he was prone on the table. "Sleep," the Qunari continued as his eyes looked over the slim, elven body.

"That... sounds... like a good..." Fenris's voice trailed off as his eyes closed.

"Wake up already, we need to talk," Anders groused with a slight nudge.

"Whuh? Where?" Fenris's eyes opened. He turned his head and looked over at the mage, who was bare-chested and wearing tan breeches, as well. The elf's vision was slightly hazy, but he noticed that the blond's hair was tied back again.

"Why don't you let your hair down more?" Fenris blurted out.

"Excuse me?" Anders looked Fenris as if the elf had grown two heads.

"You are excused," the elf said with an embarrassed grunt as he slowly sat up. He looked around, but the Qunari healer was nowhere to be found. Anders was sitting in a chair right in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" Fenris asked, followed by a loud yawn.

"Watching you sleep for the past hour or so," Anders muttered.

"Stop your jesting! I just closed my eyes... a moment ago," Fenris said with a shake of his head. It was a bad idea. He swooned at the sudden movement and leaned forward dangerously on the edge of the table. Anders quickly got up and placed both hands on the elf's shoulders to steady him. It was then that Fenris noticed the strap around his neck attached to the cloth cradle that held his right arm. The limb was bound by wooden slats that were wrapped securely with gauze. He lifted it slightly and stared.

"Your arm was broken in two places. Both above and below the elbow," Anders explained. "Your ribs and legs were also bruised, but nothing else was broken," the mage added.

"But how..." Fenris continued to look at his arm. "Was I really asleep for that long?"

"Yes. Without ma-" Anders quickly stopped himself, while Fenris looked sharply at him. "He induced a heavy sleep so that he could set your bones without pain."

"It aches," Fenris protested.

"Believe me. It could be much worse," Anders said with a serious look. "Now, are you really lucid or not? You look like someone just coming out of a late night at the Hanged Man."

"I'm fine," the elf protested. "What did you want to talk about?" Fenris asked while running his hand through his hair, then mussing it on a strange whim. The wild locks garnered him a curious look from Anders, but the mage soon shrugged and began to speak in hushed tones.

"First of all, thank you for-"

"No Anders, thank you," Fenris quickly cut in. He shook his head roughly again, necessitating another steadying hold from the mage.

"Stop shaking your head like that!" Anders ordered.

"Thank you for saving my life," Fenris elaborated with a voice tinged with clear remorse as he noticed the mage's bruised lip and cheek. "No one would have blamed you for leaving me, even Hawke, after what I did," the elf added.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Anders remarked with a slight undertone of anger. "Don't shake your head!" The mage immediately added as a precaution.

"I attacked you even though you had helped set me free. I might have even..." Fenris closed his eyes at the memory of his rage. "I'm glad your cat was there. What's her name again?"

"Mab."

"Where is Mab?"

"In our room."

"Our room," Fenris asked with a confused look.

"Yes, our room. The decision wasn't up to us. While you were being treated, the rest of us were given our room assignments."

"Yes, well, thank you Anders. I won't forget what you did for me," Fenris said sincerely.

"I didn't do it for you," Anders scoffed with a wave of his hand. "But... you're welcome. Now stop interrupting me."

"Fine," Fenris growled angrily. Anders smirked.

"Now that's more like the Fenris I know!"

"Just get to your point," the elf grumbled at the mage's mirth.

"Well, as strange as it is for us to be trading thank yous... thank you for not divulging my secret," Anders said with a slight frown.

"You don't seem very happy about that," Fenris remarked.

"Because we're not out of the Blight yet," Anders said.

"What Blight?" Fenris asked, utterly confused.

"Are you Merrill all of a sudden? Figure of speech, Fenris! Context! As in, we still have a problem," Anders answered impatiently.

"And what problem would that be? None of the other elves know about you, and I certainly won't tell," Fenris promised.

"I think Enrique..."

"Who?"

"The first mate of the Osprey. I think he saw me help you. But I'm not sure. He was fleeing below deck when I did."

"And how would he know your secret?" Fenris gave the mage an incredulous look.

"The whole crew of the Osprey does, actually."

"What?" Fenris shouted in dismay then whimpered instantly as he clutched at his left temple with his good hand from the blinding headache that had erupted.

"Will you keep your voice down!" The mage gasped.

"But why would you tell everyone on that ship? Are you completely daft?"

"Esteban, the cabin boy who freed you was injured earlier in a fall from the crow's nest! He could've died! The only way to save him was to use magic," Anders whispered the final word.

"Oh."

"Besides, I'm not the only one who wasn't thinking too clearly."

"What do you mean?" Fenris asked with furrowed brows.

"You're a known associate of the Champion of Kirkwall and a lot more prominent at his side than I," Anders pointed out. "Hawke dueled the Arishok. With magic. Your little 'I hate all mages' speech earlier won't hold up for long if any our Qunari meet ones that witnessed that."

"Hah!" Fenris laughed.

"I fail to see the humor in that," Anders muttered dryly.

"Do you really think any Qunari will want to be the one to even imply that the Arishok, one of the three pillars of Qunari society was bested in combat by a bas saarebas, a foreign mage?"

"Still..."

"It's not going to happen. Even if someone let that slip, no faithful Qunari will believe it. And they are all faithful," Fenris said confidently.

"That applies to us now, by the way, or need I remind you of current events," Anders narrowed his eyes.

"There was no other way," Fenris retorted angrily.

"I know. Don't get your underclothes in a bunch." Anders held his palms up placatingly. Fenris just grunted. He rubbed at his temple some more but the potion-induced headache was slowly receding.

"Has the crew been flushed out, yet?" Fenris asked after a moment's pause.

"I don't know. None of us have been allowed topside since going below deck." Anders chewed his lower lip nervously. "I just wish I knew if Enrique saw me or not. He was a right bastard to me and I know he would tell the Qunari in a heartbeat if he knew I had anything to do with your escape."

"We'll deny it, then. It will be the word of slaves versus slavers, and I think we both know who the Qunari will favor," Fenris replied. By impulse, he reached forward with the intention of squeezing the mage's shoulder in reassurance. However, Fenris stopped just before his fingers made contact. The mage regarded him with a raised brow, then looked at the hand frozen in the space between them. Fenris quickly retracted it. Both men were silent for a moment. Before either could say anything, the door to the clinic swung open and the Qunari medic walked in with two large Qunari soldiers. Anders and Fenris gulped in unison.

"Good, you... awake," the healer said haltingly to Fenris, though the elf was eyeing the armed guards. "Take this... if... pain, yes?" The healer said. When Fenris didn't respond, he waved the small vial in front of his face. The elf's green eyes crossed slightly at the equally green vial of liquid that had been shoved inches from his nose. It wasn't quite the same color, but nevertheless, it immediately reminded the elf of the vial that Anders had smashed onto the floor during their first confrontation on the Osprey. Fenris looked over at Anders and from the blush on the mage's cheeks, he knew Anders was thinking the same thing. Their eyes met for a split second, before both men quickly looked away.

"I'll be fine, thanks," Fenris started to shake his head, but wisely stopped before causing himself more pain.

"No! You take!" The healer wouldn't take no for an answer and pressed the vial into Fenris's good hand. The elf reluctantly curled his fingers around the offering, while the Qunari continued. "If pain, drink small. Small drink. Understand?"

"Yes. Thank you," Fenris said with a slight nod, then he lifted his right arm slightly. "And thank you for this."

"No move like that!" The healer admonished, but he grinned, obviously pleased with both his handiwork and his patient's gratitude. "Sten want see you. Go. Up," the healer pointed.

"Why?" Anders and Fenris both asked nervously. The healer only shrugged. The two guards grunted and pointed toward the clinic door. The elf relunctantly stepped off of the examination table. One guard walked ahead of him and Anders, while the other positioned himself behind the pair. The four of them stepped out of the clinic into a narrow hallway. They passed a few rooms with closed doors, then ascended a short set of stairs to the deck.

The sun was high in the sky, prompting both men to shield their eyes. Once their eyes had adjusted to the glare, they found themselves alongside Lanreth, Tieral, Bronwyn, and the other former slaves of the Osprey. Facing them and lining the warship's railing were the Qunari warriors, with Sten in the center. The single human warrior and three elves of the Qunari were on the ends, so that this time, the center of the line was an unbroken line of tall, broad shoulders. What lay beyond was completely blocked from sight. Though none of the warriors held bows, Fenris felt like he was facing down a firing squad. He glanced at Anders, whose brow was beaded with sweat.

"Do you know what is going on here?" Lanreth asked Fenris nervously.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," the pale-haired elf responded.

"Viddathari! You have been called to the deck of the Ataash to witness-" Sten stopped for a moment as Mab sauntered onto the deck near the line of soldiers.

"Mab! How did you get out of the room?" Anders whispered harshly.

Sten raised a brow at the cat as she began weave her body between his massive, dangerous looking feet.

"Mab, get over here!" Anders ordered. The cat ignored him. "I'm very sorry-"

"You have been called to witness something as glorious as this ship itself!" Sten started anew, choosing to ignore both the cat and her owner.

"Mab!" Anders hissed and knelt to the ground. Finally the cat responded and scampered across the deck toward his waiting arms.

"Behold, the certainty of the Qun!" Sten bellowed. Heavy footsteps sounded as the soldiers began to move, but Anders kept his eyes on Mab. She jumped into his arms just as all the viddathari elves except for Fenris and Lanreth began to cheer. Tieral and Bronwyn were the loudest by far, with the latter letting out a shrill, triumphant ululation.

"Well, Anders, it looks like our prayers have been answered," Fenris remarked with an odd tone to his voice.

"Hmmm?" Anders stood up with Mab cradled in his arms. He glanced over to Fenris first, then followed the elf's gaze to the railing which was no longer blocked from view. His breath caught as he saw several heads skewered on pikes. The one directly across from him belonged to Enrique, his lifeless eyes wide open and his face frozen in a rictus of sheer terror. It was a chilling sight, but it was completely eclipsed by the severed head Anders saw just to the left of the first mate. The mage stumbled and Mab jumped from his arms. Anders would have fallen to the deck, had it not been for Fenris's left arm, which quickly caught him around the waist.

"No... Montoya," Anders let out a choked gasp.